Nonhook nonslice grip finder for golf clubs



July 14, 1953 J. R. HARA NONI-100K NONSLICE GRIP FINDER FOR GOLF CLUBS Filed May 16, 1950 INVENTOR. c/am es E. #0 7',

Patented July 14, 1953 NON HOOK N ONSLICE GRIP FINDER F OR GOLF CLUBS James Rikuo Hara, Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii Application May 16, 1950, Serial No. 162,284

3 Claims. (01'. 273-45 This invention relates to attachments for correcting faulty positions of the hand in gripping a golf club and in particular a cast temporarily positioned over parts of the hand, supported from the wrist of one hand and formed to receive coacting parts of both hands with the hands in a correct gripping position on the handle of a club.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a guide for directing the thumbs and fingers to correct gripping positions on the handle of a golf club and which is so formed that with the, cast in position the hands will be uncomfortable in any position except the correct position.-

Supports of different types and design and other devices have been provided for facilitating holding the hands in correct positions but while these devices support the wrist and hand it is still difficult to determine whether or not the hands are in the correct gripping positions. With this thought in mind this invention contemplates a cast having cavities therein for receiving parts of the hand with the hands in correct gripping positions whereby a golfer may readily determine whether or not his grip is correct.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means for forming a cast for positioning hands in gripping a golf club whereby the hands are positively directed to the proper positions.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide a cast shaped to provide a grip finder for positioning hands in gripping a golf club that is so formed that one cast will accommodate hands over a comparatively large range of sizes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a grip finding cast for positioning hands on handles of golf clubs which is comparatively simple and inexpensive.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies a cast or shield, substantially U-shaped in cross section, having leather wrist straps on the upper end and having cavities therein formed to receive coacting parts of the hands over which the cast is positioned.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational view illustrating the grip finding cast in use wherein the cast is positioned on the wrist of the left hand with the thumb of the right hand extended into a thumb receiving cavity therein.

Figure 2 is a view looking toward the opposite side of the cast showing the relative positions of the fingers of the hands in the gripping position.

Figure 3 is a cross section through the upper part ofthe cast, being taken on line 3-3 of .portion In to which mounting straps ii and i2 are attached and a thumb and finger receiving portion l3 whichis provided with a cavity it having pro ections and depressions therein corresponding to formations of the knuckles and. I} coacting parts of the thumb and fingers.

The cast is substantially U-shape in cross sectionand the upper wrist engaging section ii] flares outwardly to correspond with the position of the wrist with the inner surface extended outwardly providing a recess [5 in an outwardly bulging part l6 wherein the recess is positioned to receive the small finger of the left hand which is indicated by the numeral IT and from this recess the inner surface extends inwardly and downwardly with the lines l4 corresponding with the outer surfaces of the intermediate fingers and with a lower recess H positioned to receive the tip of the forefinger and a still further recess 18 positioned to receive the thumb of the right hand.

As illustrated in Figure 4 the lower part of the cast is formed with a reinforcing section [9 on one side and a flange 20 on the opposite side, the flange 20 being positioned to cover the fingers of the right hand.

It will be understood that a similar cast may also be formed for the left hand with the cavity for the fingers and thumbs positioned accordingly.

The supporting straps H and i2 are mounted in openings 2| and 22, respectively in the sides of the cast, as shown in Figure 3.

As illustrated in the drawings in which the cast disclosed therein is formed for a right hand player the grip finding cast is Worn on the left hand with the straps positioned around the wrist and with the cast covering the outer edge of the wrist and extended downwardly to the knuckle area and to the gripping fingers or fist.

With the cast positioned as shown and described the fingers of the left hand fall into the recesses provided therefor and with the thumb of the right hand extended into the recess E8 the hands will be in the correct gripping position.

These casts are formed by making an impression of the hands in the correct gripping posi-,

tion with the forms formed of parafiin, wax, plaster of Paris or the like and from this form the cast is made of plastic, aluminum, paste board, Celluloid or other material.

It will be understood that similar casts may be formed for a left hand player by reversing the positions of the parts thereof.

In use one edge, as indicated by the numeral 23 extends over part of the wrist of the left hand and thumb of the right hand and the other edge 24 extends over parts of the fingers and knuckles of both hands as illustrated in Figure 2.

With the parts arranged in this manner the improved cast of this invention prevents slicing and hooking, and with the cast extended to a point midway of the forearm such'as between the elbow and wrist it prevents the breaking of the wrist at the impact of the power stroke, although in the backswing,when fully pivoted, the wrists are cocked. The grip finder, therefore, not only guides the hands to the proper way of gripping the club, but also prevents slicing and hooking. I r

It will be understood that modifications may be made in the design of the cast and arrangement of the parts thereof without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A grip finder for hands gripping a gof club handle comprisin an elongated rigid body member, U-shape in cross section and havingcavities therein positioned to receive parts-of the hands and fingers of both hands and part-of the thumb of one hand with the hands in the correct position for gripping a golf club handle, and means positioned to extend around the wrist of one hand for temporarily mounting the body member on one of the hands of the player.

2. A grip finder for hands gripping a golf club handle comprising an elongated rigid body member, U-shape in cross section and having cavities therein positioned to receive parts of the hands and fingers of both hands and part of the thumb of one hand with the hands in the correct position for gripping a golf club handle, and means positioned to extend around the Wrist of one hand for temporarily mounting the body member on one of the hands of the player, the upper end of said body member extended upwardly on the forearm and over the lower portion of the wrist of the player.

' 3. In a grip finder for hands gripping a golf club handle, the combination which comprises an elongated rigid body portion, U-shape in cross section having an upwardly extended arcuate wrist receiving section and a lower hand, finger and thumb receiving section and having cavities with projections and recesses in the said hand, finger and thumb receiving sections with the cavities positioned to receive parts of the hands and fingers of both hands and part of the thumb of "one hand with the hands in the correct position for gripping a golf club handle, and leather straps'exte'nded from the edges of the said arcuateupper wrist receiving section of the body portion. v

- JAMES RIKUO HARA.

' References Cited in the file of this patent 

